Sewer Financing Case Heads to Supreme Court

(CN) – Indianapolis property owners will head to Washington to fight for refunds on sewer improvements, with the Supreme Court agreeing Monday to take up the case. Prior to 2005, the Barrett Law meant that Indianapolis home owners felt more of the burden to finance sewer improvements. Residents who had previously paid for such services in part of full under the old system were left in the lurch, however, when the city abandoned that law in favor of a system less burdensome to private citizens. The city discharged all outstanding Barrett Law assessments owing as of Nov. 1, 2005, ignoring previously made payments. In May 2011, the Indiana Supreme Court rejected the residents’ claims for a refund. Indianapolis’ decision-making served a legitimate public interest and did not violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, according to that decision. The property owners, led by Christine Armour, petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for review.